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Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Pigeon Post told of the Win- Sepia Saturday

Sepia Saturday encourages bloggers to record their family history through photographs.

When I saw this prompt of three young men carrying football boots, there was only one photograph I had to feature and it only came into my possession a few weeks ago.

Thanks to a local historical society, I now have the earliest photograph of my father, aged 14 in 1926 as a member of a winning football team.
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My father is on the right of the middle row, identified as Perce Weston.

My father John Percy Weston (1912-2003) had written down for me the memories of his early life in Brosely, near Ironbridge, Shropshire.

"I was mad keen on soccer, so much so that I had a trial at Birmingham with the English schoolboys. My teacher took me in his car to that and to a second trial at Shrewsbury.

One Saturday when I was working as an errand boy, two directors from Birmingham Football Club came to see Dad and Mum to sign me on for the junior team - they refused, saying I was too young to be away from home. I was not told about this until later and sulked for a month!

But a bit of glory followed, when my school team entered a cup competition. I was vice-captain and we got to the final - and won the cup, the first ever for Brosely.

One of the supporters took a carrier pigeon along with us and set it loose at the end to let Brosely know the result and to prepare a welcome, as we were bringing home the cup! "

The pigeon was obviously an ancestor of Twitter!

Apparently a photograph was taken of the team's success, but no pictures of my father's early life passed down the family. I have only one photograph (below) of him prior to his meeting my mother in 1936. Family memorabilia (including Dad's church choir and football team photographs) were thrown out by a widowed relative. How sad!

Unfortunately I only had a broad indication of the year for the event, which made tracing it in local newspapers difficult. In an effort to find out more, I contacted Brosely Historical Society who put my enquiry on their online newsletter. I am delighted to say I have heard from three members of the society with more personal memories - and even better have a photograph of the winning football team, with my father on the middle row right, identified as Perce Weston. I always thought he hated his middle name Percy, but he seemed to be known by that as a child.

This is the earliest photograph I have of my father and I am so grateful to the Society for filing this gap in my family history. My father retained his love of football all his life. He was a great follower of Wolves and Aston Villa and was an avid watcher of matches on television, right up to his death at the age of 91. And an important lesson from this - don't forget the value that can be gained from contacting local societies.

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My father in the 1930's proudly showing off his car with his younger brother Charles,

Based on a recent posting under the banner of Geneabloggers Thankful ThursdayClick here to find how other bloggers' stories on this week's theme.

Isn't in wonderful when a 'new' photograph suddenly appears? I've had a few lately and they all seem to add something to the story. Your Dad sounds very like mine, following his team avidly, a lifelong supporter. Lovely post Sue.

What a wonderful story! I'm glad your father's disappointment was followed by a first-ever championship. Very little can top that kind of excitement. The carrier-pigeon part of the story is most amazing.

You are so lucky to have this! I think about all the photos that I am missing from my own relatives, then I wonder, am I keeping enough around for the years far ahead? Interesting story, and the picture of your father and his younger brother Charles, is very special too! What a wonderful car besides!

Thank you to everyone for their kind comments. I know how lucky I am thqt my father wrote down his memories for me (he would have loved blogging!).

To Barbara & Nancy - yes, a member of the historical society e-mailed me a copy of the football team photograph which may well have come from a newspaper. I also was sent a photograph of the street where the family lived and portraits of the two vicars that my father must have known as a member of the church choir - all material for future blog posts.

About Me

I have been interested in family history for years. It all began when I was allowed as a child to look through the old family photographs and memorabilia kept in a shoebox in the cupboard at my grandfather's house. That treat started me on a fascinating ancestral trail.